Lyr ADD: Dancing Song (Bob Pegg)

Subject: Lyr Add: DANCING SONG (Bob Pegg)
From: GUEST,Martin Hughes
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 09:28 AM

DANCING SONG (Bob Pegg Version)

1. I learned to dance when I was a boy,
And dancing was my only joy.
I'll still be dancing when you grow old,
When the seas dry up and the world turns cold.
My father taught me how to dance.
He said it was my only chance
To show the people how to be free,
An ordinary boy like me.

2. When the day came to go to school,
The teacher took me for a fool.
You should have heard the pupils roar,
As I danced through the classroom door.
But I didn't cry. I didn't fret.
I'll told them "stuff their alphabet"!
I packed my bags the very same night
And I danced off in the morning light.

3. I heard a cockerel blow his horn.
I saw a new day being born.
The wind began to stir the wheat.
The grass sprang up beneath my feet.
I knew the dance would help to show
The trees and flowers how to grow.
So knowing I must never tire.
I gave a yell and leaped up higher.

4. One day I took in me mind:
The time had come for me to bind,
And with me sweetheart fair and wild,
I heeled and toed it up the aisle.
The people cheered. The thrushes sang.
For miles around the church bells rang.
The pub was closed and we were wed,
So waltzed off to our marriage bed.

5. In time came children, one, two, three.
They all danced like their mother and me.
Through the hall and up the stairs
And up to bed to say their prayers.
But they soon lost the prize I'd earned.
They soon forgot the steps they'd learned.
My wife grew old, I knew the day
Had come for me to dance away.

6. Over the mountains, over the sea,
Nothing on earth could hold back me.
But let me give you a word of warning:
If you walk out on a new spring morning,
Around the corner of the next street,
You hear the sound of my dancing feet.
Keep away! Try not to hear!
Whatever you do, don't come too near!
The dance may take you, as it took me,
From lovers and friends and family.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dancing Song (Bob Pegg)
From: GUEST,Woody wood
Date: 23 May 09 - 12:49 PM

I used to sing this song regularly at folk clubs and occassionaly at Morris Ales. I loved the vibrancy and concept of it.... 'twas told once that it was written about a guy who eventually 'defected to the East ' during the Cold War.... we were never told about them !... who was he( if that story is true )?
The thing is the song always 'bombed'for me... any morris men in the audience always seemed to think I was taking the mick and I never had success with it but it still lives in the pillage bag.... I was also once berated by a divorcee who blamed the morris for her situation and the song was not a welcome addition to her evening out... but that's showbusiness !

Subject: Lyr Add: DANCING SONG (from Mike Garland)
From: GUEST,Mike the MorrismanYMM
Date: 23 May 09 - 04:41 AM

Modified from the version by Mike Garland on his CD "Prittle Prattling Stories"

DANCING SONG

1. I learned to dance when I was a boy,
And dancing was my greatest joy.
I'll still be dancing when I grow old,
When the seas run dry and the earth turns cold.
My father taught me how to dance.
He said it was a special chance
To enjoy my life and learn to be free,
An ordinary boy like me.

2. Soon came the time to go to school.
The teacher said I was a fool.
You should have heard my school friends roar
As I danced out through the classroom door.
I didn't cry. I didn't fret.
I'll teach myself the alphabet.
I packed my bags that very same night
And danced out into the morning light.

3. I heard a cockerel herald the morn.
I saw a new spring day be born.
I heard the birds all rustle their wings,
And everyone in chorus sing.
I danced and danced as if to show
The trees and flowers how to grow.
I felt that I would never tire.
I gave a yell and jumped up higher.

4. And then a thought came into my head:
The time had come for me to wed,
And with my sweetheart true and wild.
We heeled and toed it up the aisle.
The people cheered. The thrushes sang.
For miles around the church bells rang.
The pubs were shut when we were wed,
So we waltzed straight up to our wedding bed.

5. Soon came children, one, two, three,
And they all danced like their mother and me,
But they soon lost the prize I'd earned,
Soon forgot the steps they'd learned.
When my dear wife died, I knew the day
Had come for me to dance away,
Over the mountain, over the sea.
Nothing on earth can hold back me.

6. But let me give you a word of warning:
If you go out on a summer's morning,
Around the corner and down the street,
You'll hear the sound of my dancing feet.
Don't come too close. Try not to hear.
Just keep away; don't come too near,
Or the dance may take you as it took me
From lovers and friends and family.

Subject: RE: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 03:41 AM

Bob moved sideways from the songwriting and more into storytelling and community arts. He moved to Scotland, but has often been seen in Whitby during Folk Week running the workshop, for older children, which produced a short play, usually based on some sort of folk tale.
I did once find a web site, but can't recall which computer it got bookmarked on. I think I put the link on a mudcat thread, so a forum search for Bob Pegg might find it.
Bob still keeps in touch with his old friends in the Bradford/Halifax area.
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 06:27 PM

Bob Pegg lives in Scotland - Inverness, if I remember right. He's still writing as far as I know (I last saw him about eight years ago, when we talked for hours and hours).

Anne

Subject: RE: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 06:59 PM

He was an intriguing talent. One of the few guys - you thought - this bloke is experimenting with the song as a concept. very intelligent and talented.

is he still around, I haven't seen him for a long time?

Subject: RE: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Feadan
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 06:25 PM

Wonderful. Thanks Malcom!

Best,
Feadan

Subject: RE: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:50 PM

'Dancing Song', written by Bob Pegg (Heathside Music 1971) and recorded on Mr Fox, The Gipsy, Transatlantic Records TRA 236, 1971. The two Mr Fox albums are currently available on cd as 'Join Us in Our Game'.

Subject: Origins: Anyone know this song?
From: Feadan
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:30 PM

I heard a wonderful song decades ago sung by by a Morris Dancer in a pub called the Cat & Mouse somewhere in the south east of England.

The first verse:

I learned to dance when I was a boy
and dancing was me only joy.
I'll still be dancing when you grow old
and the seas dry up and the world turns cold.
Me father taught me how to dance.
He said it was me only chance
to show the people how to be free.
An ordinary boy like me.


Didn't get a chance to ask the singer about it. The syncopation of the melody had a Morris feel to it. Anyone know this one? Who wrote it or may have recorded it?

Cheers,
Feadan